pre-1940 laminate with a built-in backsplash
Laminate tops from the pre-1940 with a coved backsplash can be resurfaced as one piece, backsplash included, if the core is dry.
Serving Highland Park & nearby Northbrook, Glenview
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Highland Park, IL
Laminate, cultured marble and tile counters in Highland Park resurfaced with a new stone-look or solid-color coating, no tear-out.
- Crews working in Highland Park ZIP 60035
- Most jobs done in days, with your kitchen still usable
- Samples and a written quote before we start
Countertop surfaces we resurface in Highland Park
If your counters are solid but the color or pattern is wrong, a resurfacing coat changes the look without demolition. In Highland Park we clean, repair and prime laminate, cultured marble and tile tops, then spray a new stone-look or solid finish and a clear protective topcoat.
Tile counters with grout that won't come clean
Tile counters can be coated over so the dark grout lines disappear under one smooth finish, after loose tiles are reset.
Dated cultured marble tops
Cast cultured marble takes a resurfacing coat well once crazing and chips are addressed. Kitchens and vanities both qualify.
Laminate swollen around the sink
Swollen laminate is the one problem resurfacing can't solve. We check every top for water damage before quoting a coating.
Scratches, knife marks and stains
Fine scratches and set-in stains are cleaned, sanded and filled before the coating goes on, so they don't telegraph through.
Laminate worn dull or through the pattern
Spots where the print has worn away near the sink or the stove disappear under a continuous new finish.
Formica in a color you are tired of
When the laminate is in good shape but the color dates the room, resurfacing changes it in a couple of days without new tops.
A kitchen you plan to sell soon
Getting ready to list? A new finish on old laminate makes the kitchen photograph and show more current.
What we do on the job
- Inspection for water damageEvery top is checked for soft or swollen areas, loose edges and movement before we quote a coating.
- Masking and ventilationCabinets, walls, appliances and floor are covered, and the room is ventilated while we work.
- RepairsChips filled, edges reglued, loose tiles reset and grout joints leveled.
- Sanding and primingThe surface is scuffed for adhesion and primed with a bonding primer.
- Base and pattern coatsWe build up color in layers, plain for a solid finish or speckled for a granite look.
- RecaulkingJoints at the wall and sink are sealed again after coating.
- Cure-time and care instructionsYou get written care tips and the wait times before heavy use and cleaning.
Materials and finishes
Cultured marbleCast tops in kitchens and vanities that accept a new color after repair and priming.
Laminate (Formica)The most common base; it coats well when the particleboard underneath is dry and flat.
Stone-look finishesSpeckled or flecked coatings that read like granite or other natural stone.
Resurfacing vs. replacingCoat what is solid and you like the shape of; replace what is swollen, cracked or the wrong layout.
Solid colorsPlain white, gray, black or warm neutrals for a simple, modern look.
What the work looks like in Highland Park homes
Before
AfterCountertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in a 1960s ranch, Highland Park
This one is a 1960s ranch in Highland Park. What we started with: light beige laminate. The main complaint was laminate worn through near the sink. The result: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. On site this meant masking and ventilation, sanding and priming, plus recaulking.
Before
AfterNorthbrook kitchen, postwar Cape Cod: countertop refinishing & resurfacing
A postwar Cape Cod near Downtown Northbrook, a typical kitchen for Northbrook. The kitchen as it was: speckled laminate. The reason for the call: laminate worn through near the sink. The result: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. Work included repairs, sanding and priming, plus recaulking.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Northbrook →
Before
AfterCountertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in a 1990s two-story colonial, Buffalo Grove
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial near Didier Farms. What we started with: almond laminate with a backsplash lip. What bothered the owners most: a laminate color that dated the whole kitchen. Finished kitchen: the same counters resurfaced with a smooth stone-look coating, edges and sink area included. On site this meant masking and ventilation, repairs, plus sanding and priming.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a postwar bi-level in Highland Park
What changed: warm walnut butcher block countertops with a tight seam, an undermount sink and a new faucet.
Countertop Fabrication & Installation in Highland Park →
Before
AfterA Highland Park 1950s ranch: before and after
Cabinets in white uppers and dusty blue lowers with matte black pulls, bright white quartz counters, a terracotta-look square tile backsplash, black-and-white checkerboard tile flooring and recessed lights and under-cabinet LED strips.
Kitchen Remodeling in Highland Park →Day by day
- Photos and a quick checkA few photos tell us the material and whether resurfacing is likely to work.
- Color and finish choicePick a stone-look or solid color from samples, plus satin or gloss.
- Prep and coatingWe prepare the tops and build the coating system in stages.
- Cure, then back to useThe finish needs time to harden; we tell you when light use and full use are safe.
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing questions from Highland Park homeowners
Can tile countertops be resurfaced?
Yes. We fill the grout joints, secure loose tiles and coat over the whole surface for a smooth, single finish.
Can I cut on or set hot pans on a refinished counter?
Please don't. Cutting boards and hot pads protect the finish and keep it looking right much longer.
Should I resurface or replace my countertops?
If the counters are solid and the only problem is looks, a coating makes sense. If water damage or layout is the issue, new tops do.
Is it the same as painting my countertops?
Similar idea, different materials. Our coatings are made for countertops and are applied in several coats over a primed surface.
How long does a resurfaced countertop last?
It depends on prep, use and care. Treated gently, a good coating holds up for years; heavy cutting and hot pans shorten its life.
Highland Park contractor registration: do kitchen contractors need it?
The City publishes contractor requirements on its Building Division page (new building codes effective March 1, 2026). We take care of that before work starts.
Do you work in my part of Highland Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Highland Park, including Ravinia District, Downtown Highland Park, Port Clinton, St. John's — ZIP 60035 — and nearby Northbrook, Glenview, Buffalo Grove.
Working in Highland Park
- A lot of Highland Park kitchens date from the pre-1940. We know these layouts well and what is worth keeping.
- Most Highland Park homes are single-family. We protect floors and driveways and leave the site clean every day.
- Older paint is treated with lead-safe practices: containment, HEPA cleanup and a clean hand-over.
Ravinia DistrictDowntown Highland ParkPort ClintonSt. John's
ZIP 60035
Countertop Refinishing & Resurfacing nearby
Other kitchen services in Highland Park
Countertop RepairChips, cracks, seams and burns fixed without replacing the top.
Countertop Fabrication & InstallationQuartz, granite and butcher block, templated and installed.
Stone Countertop RestorationEtches, stains and dull spots taken out, then the stone resealed.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.